Head of Thomas Becket. This spectacular pilgrim sign, with its extremely deep
relief in the face, is a copy of a common type of badge from the shrine of England's
favorite saint, martyred in 1170. His shrine was the greatest of England's pilgrimage
sites until the end of the 15th century. The similarities among the large number
of these signs, dating from the late 13th century well into the 15th probably
reflects not so much what Thomas himself looked like as the appearance of an important
statue or reliquary within the shrine.

The Sword that Killed Becket had (and has) its own altar in Canterbury.
Our sign is copied from numerous examples. Although the murder took place in 1170,
the sword is a 14th or early 15th century one, with a ring-shaped pommel characteristic
of the Irish medieval sword. Together with the beast-heads on the cross (if they
are taken to be bear heads), this may point to the popular belief that it was
the Irishman Reginald Fitz Urse who struck the fatal blow.

St. Alban,
the first British martyr, was killed near the city which now bears his name. His
Roman executioner suffered a terrible penalty, which is shown in this pilgrim
sign; as the sword fell, decapitating St. Alban, his attacker's eyes sprang from
his head, blinding him so that he could not see the miracles which would arise
from the saint's sacrifice. This sign is backed with a thin piece of brass; original
pieces often had metal or paper backings to show off the openwork more clearly.

The
Blessed John Schorn is a copy of a late 15th century sign now in Salisbury.
John Schorn, vicar of North Marston, Bucks, from 1290-1314 was famous as an exorcist.
This pilgrim sign commemorates his most spectacular act, when he forced the Devil
into a boot. He was venerated at North Marston and, from 1478, at St. George's
Chapel at Windsor, where his relics were translated. He was the patron of those
ill with fever or toothache, of the blind, and of depressed youths.

The Walsingham Fleur-de-Lis is patterned on several extant example.
The knobbed decoration is characteristic of pilgrim signs from Walsingham, where
England's foremost shrine to the Virgin stood. It imitates in pewter the pearl
"halos" which adorn many precious metal brooches from the second quarter of the
15th century.

St.
Catherine's Wheel is the instrument upon which this 3rd century saint was
almost martyred. When the Roman emperor's diabolical engine was put into motion
to destroy the saint, it burst into shrapnel and killed many of the bloodthirsty
onlookers. This piece is a copy of a British brooch, one of many similar extant
badges, although a specifc shrine cannot be identified as the source. We also
offer a large sign that shows the saint herself.